ABSTRACT
American political thought has a long tradition of reflection, from Thomas Jefferson and
Alexis Tocqueville to Robert Nisbet and Robert Bellah, which treats strong communities
as an essential prerequisite for vocal participation in democratic politics. Specifically,
vocal participation in politics: moral consensus, obedience to shared rules, and patriotism.
Moral consensus within strong communities is what gives citizens a sense of collective
purpose that leads to greater political involvement. It follows that morally grounded
citizens will be more vocal about politics in their local and national communities and more
willing to obey the outcomes of democratic political decision-making. This, in turn, fosters
feelings of attachment and patriotism, evidenced by higher levels of social trust, norms of
reciprocity, and cooperation, as well as wider agreement about the common good and
other ‘habits of the heart’ that enhance the quality of democracy.
